The Washington Post on Friday advocated sanctions against Nicolás Maduro government officials, even though the US administration is reluctant to impose sanctions at this moment.

In its editorial entitled "US sanctions against Venezuelan officials may bring them to the table," the US newspaper states that sanctions against Venezuelan officials could eventually make them sit and talk.

"For years the Obama administration, like its predecessors, has avoided punitive action or even harsh words against the authoritarian, populist government of Venezuela, despite its systematic violations of human rights," commented the editorial board, which described as "largely inert" Washington's policies on Caracas, DPA reported.

Further, the US newspaper echoes the arguments presented by Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who reckons that sanctions would be more effective in the Venezuelan case as many government officials "have purchased homes or stashed illicit assets in the United States."

The application of such sanctions, the Washington Post remarked, "would give Mr. Maduro and his cronies a chance to change course and the motive to do so."

The editorial was released one day after Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson ruled out sanctions against the Venezuelan Executive Office, claiming this is not the right time.

Translated by Jhean Cabrera